Fans around the world admire the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and its proprietor, Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. The club is free to the public and the book is available through the library.

The “Let’s Talk About It” series is at 7 p.m., with “Explorations of Faith in Literature.”

The series begins with “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” by John Irving.

According to the library: “In the summer of 1953, two 11-year-old boys — best friends — are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy’s mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn’t believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God’s instrument. What happens to Owen, after that 1953 foul ball, is extraordinary.”

The book is available at the library. The discussion will be led by Bill DiNome of UNC Wilmington.

New Bern photographer Curtis Blake’s exhibit opens at the New Bern-Craven County Public Library with a reception Thursday at 7 p.m.

It is sponsored by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

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New Bern Civic Theatre presents three performances for Black History Month in February with “Bring on the Jazz!”

Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee, all at the Athens Theatre on Pollock Street.

The show is directed by New Bern singer John Van Dyke and produced by Karen Pierson.

Tickets are $14 in advance and $16 at the door. Students and active military tickets are $10.

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The Down East FolkArts Series presents Brooks Williams and his roots and blues music Friday and Saturday in New Bern and Beaufort.

The Friday concert is at the Trent River Coffee Company on Craven Street in New Bern. The following night, he performs at Clawson’s Restaurant in Beaufort.

The shows are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for society members and $8 for students.

Advance tickets are available at the venue and at the Bank of the Arts on Middle Street in New Bern.

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“All That Glitters,” the annual dinner-dance-silent auction benefiting the Senior Pharmacy Program, is Saturday at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

The event is from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $40.

Tickets are available through Catholic Charities, Mitchell Hardware or the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

The Carousels provide the dance music, and The Chelsea will cater.

Call 638-2188.

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Children to age 12 and their parents are invited to attend Reading Fun Day at the New Bern Mall on Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will focus on the theme “Play That Game.”

Local schools, the New Bern-Craven County Public Library, Newspapers in Education and Craven Smart Start programs host a variety of literacy activities in reading stations throughout the mall.

Children participate in four reading stations and will be eligible to receive a free book, while supplies last. The event will have a literacy area for children from birth to age 5.

Craven Smart Start, Parents as Teachers, the Family Literacy program from James W. Smith Elementary, Coastal Community Action Head Start and Craven Community College students in the Child, Family and Community class provide activities for children and information for parents. Members of Boy Scout Troop No. 67 are volunteers.

Contact Pinkie Moore at 671-0689.

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The 30th Annual Shakespeare Competition is Saturday at the North Carolina History Center, hosted by the New Bern Colonial Branch of the English-Speaking Union.

It is from 9 a.m. to noon, with six regional high schools in competition.

Participants read, interpret and perform monologues and sonnets in as many as three qualifying stages at the school, community and national levels.

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The Eastern North Carolina Bluegrass Association has its monthly concert at Lenoir Community College in Kinston Saturday.

Bands for the 7 p.m.concert include Sapony Creek, Ken Scoggins and Mills Creek and the Mac and Tammy McRoy Band.

Admission is $7, with children under 12 free.

Call Ann Banks at 244-0712.

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The Old Theater’s latest Oriental Film Festival features four films by Woody Allen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Some of Allen’s most popular romantic comedies will be featured, among them, “Midnight in Paris,” which shows at 7:30 p.m.Friday.

Saturday’s lineup includes four shows, including “Annie Hall,” “Hannah & Her Sisters,” “Manhattan” and “Annie Hall.”

Sunday shows include “Midnightin Paris” and “Manhattan.”

Tickets are $20 to see four films, and $6 per movie. Tickets are at Nautical Wheelers and at the box office on show dates.

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Friends of the Pamlico County Library hold its winter book sale Saturday from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m.

There is a large selection, for 50 cents and $1.

The selections include fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, biographies, romance and children’s books. There are also classic DVDs and tapes, along with some rare books.

Proceeds support the library.

Donated books will be accepted through Friday at the library, on N.C. 55 in Bayboro at Pamlico County High School.

Call 745-3515.

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The Pamlico County Arts Council, in collaboration with the Village Gallery in Oriental, brings the Traveling Photography Exhibit of the African-American Music Trail to Pamlico County during the month.

A reception is planned Saturday, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Village Gallery on Hodges Street.

The exhibit offers the contributions that North Carolina musicians made to the world of music.

In a special tribute to the late Blues musician George Higgs, a photograph of Higgs taken by Pamlico County photographer Ben Casey will be included. Higgs died Jan. 31.

More than four dozen photographs include portraits by internationally-known photographer Cedric N. Chatterley and historic photographs from private collections.

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The fifth-annual African-American Read-In is scheduled Sunday at the New Bern-Craven County Public Library.

The 3 p.m. event features the works of Earl Mills - author and poet - and others. It is sponsored by the Theta Beta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

It also features presentations by local African-American poets, authors, and musicians. Books by local authors will be available.